Family mourns loss of Chisago woman struck, killed on 35E

VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. - A Chisago woman is dead after a car hit her moments after she got out of her vehicle following a car crash in Vadnais Heights on Tuesday night.

According to the State Patrol, two cars collided then crashed into a median on southbound Interstate 35 E in Vadnais Heights just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday night.

One of the cars came to rest in the left and center lanes. Both drivers got out to survey the damage. That's when a third car -- trying to avoid the crash scene -- hit and killed one of the drivers before striking a fourth car that had also stopped near the accident.

Jennifer Ehnstrom, 21, died at the scene. Ehnstrom's family is mourning a young woman they describe as a "terrific girl."
Juanita Goebel, Ehnstrom's aunt, said her niece loved her dog, Luke, loved to sing and wanted to become a paralegal.

"As this case illustrates, (conditions) can be very dangerous," said Lt. Eric Roeske of the Minnesota State Patrol.

Roeske said the roads were "wet," and it was dark, but he said the underlying warning in this accident relates to what drivers need to do following a crash.

"Typically what we tell people to do is remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt on and get off the roadway. Get on to the shoulder.

Get somewhere out of the lanes of traffic. If a vehicle is disabled and you can't get the vehicle out of the lane, then you need to get yourself away from that vehicle and away from the lanes of traffic," Roeske said.

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